Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech at the Formosa Republican Association on Tuesday, introducing his book “Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love” and sharing his insights regarding the U.S. stance on Taiwan.
Pompeo said there are four main reasons that obligate the U.S. to defend Taiwan from potential aggression. First is the Taiwan Relations Act, which is both legally binding and a moral duty. Second is Taiwan’s important geographical location; he said the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific would be disrupted if China were to take control of the island. Third, Pompeo pointed out that the way the U.S. handles tension in the Taiwan Strait directly affects its credibility among other regional allies such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Finally, he mentioned the economic repercussions, given Taiwan is an important fixture in the global economy.
Ultimately, Pompeo said that defending Taiwan is not only about protecting the island nation itself, but even more so about maintaining global peace and prosperity. As for the question of whether the outcome of U.S. elections could change their stance on Taiwan, Pompeo simply responded, “We’ll be there.” He said Taiwan should have confidence in the U.S. fulfilling this promise regardless of who is in office.
Pompeo reiterated that he believes the U.S. should end its strategic ambiguity over Taiwan in the interest of global stability and justice.